Something you don't See much any more...

An actual key for a hotel room.

I guess that's what you get when you stay at an Historic Inn.

Hubbie & I spent a couple of days there seeing Sight&Sound's

"Voices of Christmas". And nearby there just happened to be 2 outlet malls. (Seriously, I had no idea the outlets were there until we passed them!! And for those who are curious, it was a Rockville Outlet and a Tanger Outlet) Needless to say, we just about finished up all of our Christmas shopping before returning home.

Finding Rest...In the Midst of Activity

This seems to be a reoccuring theme for me lately. Rest durring activity. Hmmmm... for some reason those two words 'rest' & 'activity' don't seem to go hand in hand - they might seem more comfortable across from each other on different ends of a tug-o-war rope. Have you ever felt that way? The feeling of being pulled in 2 seemingly different directions by the need/desire to rest and the activity that you find yourself imersed in? For me this seems to have been a struggle over the past - oh, I don't know - MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE (tee hee hee)



But if I think about it - why not rest in the middle of activity? It's obviously not something I can bring about myself. And somehow I thrive in the middle of activity. I love activity. So how do I obey the command from God to rest when sometimes I'm most at peace when I'm active?


Interestingly enough, our bodies are in constant activity even when we are at rest (and sleeping) Hmmm.... so maybe, God DOES have the ability to grant rest in the middle of Godly activity. Because I know that things done in my own strength just wear me out. But there is something about doing things in God's strength that is just energizing. For example, tonight, I was really, really tired. I had planned on going to a ministry night at church - but I felt too tired and worn out to go. Now from past experience, I KNOW that if I make myself go I'll be blessed. And blessed I was! In fact on my way home I again marveled at a thing that I have noticed about me before - Prayer energizes me. Talking about the Lord energizes me. Being around people who challange me to go deeper into the heart of God energizes me.

As I look back over my life, I can see a distinct difference on the inside of me. I can remember being overly worried and a bit high strung (on the inside). I think I worked really hard at not letting it be seen on the outside. But nowadays, I know there is a peace that only comes from God. A peace that can and does reign in the midst of chaos. So I just love this phrase - 'rest in the middle of activity' it speaks to me that God can and will provide rest and peace for me as I go about the activity of my day. That maybe His word to me of 'slow down' is more of slowing my innerself down. To speak to my soul to be quiet and know that He is God. To stay in that place of rest on the inside even when life demands otherwise.

So today, I will be at rest .... in the middle of work. Today, I will be at rest..... when things appear chaoitic. Today I will be at rest with 2 phones ringing off the hook as we get ready for the Thanksgiving rush. Today I will be at rest.

Today - I WILL be at REST.

Because, Rest is a weapon.
(and that is for another post ;)

What a whirl-wind weekend. Is it really Monday?. Is it really time to go back to work? Recently my weekends have been short - really short. As in, a mere 4-5 hours short. You may think I exagerate - that maybe it only feels like it's short. Nope. I truly mean 4-5 hours short. Typically I work Monday-Saturday, with weddings or other events on Saturday. But last month, I had a wedding or event just about every Sunday. I have had more Sunday events this year than ever before. And while it's nice - it does make for a short weekend with my husband.



This weekend though, was a little different. I was able to take Saturday off and head out of town with ladies from my church for a retreat weekend. It was awesome. I saw the Lord show Himself in incredible ways to these precious ladies all weekend long. There really is nothing that can compare with seeing God love on people you know in real, tangible ways. It makes me teary eyed to think about those times this weekend.



So even though I had to rush back Sunday afternoon, go straight to work (didn't even go home first) asnd then go decorate for the March of Dimes Chefs Auction, then come home rush around and get ready to attend said fund-raiser. I would do it again - in a heart beat. Just to NOT miss the amazing things God was doing in all of our lives this weekend.
*Just to NOT miss the connection with other ladies.
*Just to NOT miss being challanged in my Faith.
*Just to NOT miss the joy I saw released in hearts this weekend.
*Just to NOT miss playing spoons with a group of ladies who LOVE to laugh (you guys did my heart good! how fun to act like little girls, and enjoy the monemt!)
*Just to NOT miss watching a group of ladies bless lepers in India with shoes and such, because they caught the vision of the power of blessing.
*Just to NOT miss seeing seeds of life sprout all over the place.

Thanks Lord for not letting me convince myself NOT to go. I know that I personally so NEEDED that time away. And even though this morning, I'm tired - I know that there was a deeper refresing and rest that took place in my inmost being that words cannot even begin to describe.

I know that each person's experience is their own. This is mine. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that God, in His wisdom, set a choice before me. In my case, this weekend was about sacrificing a much needed weekend of physical rest, to press in to God for spiritual rest. For me, it was a choice of trusting God to give me the rest I needed - in the midst of activity. A visiting speaker recently said, God is a God of rest BUT He rests in His ACTIVITY. I have been meditating on that recently, and I believe God gave me a taste of that this weekend. Lord, I ask that you bring on more or your REST in me in the midst of ACTIVITY!

Fall Weddings

Are realy quite beautiful....

Stay tuned for more pics to be added